St. Andrew’s Day

St. Andrew’s Day is November 30th and is Scotland’s national day.

  • The day marks the feast day of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.
  • In Scotland it is an official bank holiday and is celebrated with traditional Scottish music, food and dance.
  • St. Andrew’s Day is thought to have originated during the reign of Malcolm III (1034-1093).
  • Andrew was a fisherman in Galilee (in Israel) before becoming a disciple of Jesus. He was eventually crucified by the Romans.
  • A Scottish Pict king is said to have seen a vision of St. Andrew before a fight with the Northumbrians (in England). During the fight, an x-shaped cross appeared in the sky. When the Picts won, this X was used on the Scottish flag.
  • In 1320 St.Andrew was recognised as the patron saint of Scotland.
  • Although St. Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s official national holiday, it is less celebrated than Burns Night (January 25th).
  • St. Andrew is also the patron saint of Romania, Russia, Greece and the Ukraine. St. Andrew’s Day is the national day of independence in Barbados.